[Symptoms] Trying to figure out my nose keeps clogging up after a few hours of sleep

[Semi]

Hi everyone.

I've been using my CPAP for about 2 years and it's been a big help. However, I've been running into something strange. Maybe once or twice a week, my left nostril gets very clogged after 4-6 hours of sleep, which wakes me up and then I struggle to fall back asleep, sometimes upwards of an hour. If it matters, I usually sleep on my right side.

I'm taking flonase and zyrtec nightly, got allergy shots, regularly wash my sheets and CPAP parts. I have a humidifer, set to level 4.

I've talked to my ENT, but he said that structurally things seemed fine (I've had 2 septoplasties). He said that having pressure too high could cause the nose congestion.

I usually use pressure 8.6-12. What's worrying me is that if I drop the pressure to 7.6, my nose usually clears up. So maybe my minimum is too high? But if I drop down to 7.6, it doesn't feel like enough pressure, and I feel like I'm struggling to take deep breaths. I'm using nasal pillows if that matters. 

Has anyone had something like this before?

I've attached images from 3 recent sessions

10/23 - Around 4:30 I was congested and I lowered the pressure until it got better at 7.6 pressure. But around 7:45 I woke up again very congested and had to pause and start the machine to clear up

10/26 - Example of a great night!

10/30 - Just last night, I was woken up around 7:30, tried to breathe calmly. Eventually I dropped the pressure to 7.6, but couldn't get back to sleep. I also just started using a cervical collar.

[THEVGE]

I had the same with P-series of Resmed. My solution was to go back to over-the-nose masks. I do not know why but maybe worth a try?

[eok361]

do you have the machine set to nasal pillow in the mask section?

[G. Szabo]

I had similar issues and figured the overly dry air was (partially)  to blame.
Here is my solution:
Humidity setting 7 with hose temperature 30C. This setting is about the rainout limit in my area. 
Switching from nasal pillow to nasal cradle (under the nose) is essential because when the pillow leaks, the air is first blown into your nose before seascapes after making a U-turn. Hence, the leak dries your nose. The pillow avoids this even when it leaks.
I also used the products below.    


HylaMist nasal spray against nasal congestion

TURBINE Nasal Dilator from RHINOMED to use instead of Nasal Strips

[Deborah K.]

I found that sleeping on my back allows my nose to drain naturally and works well to avoid congestion while sleeping. Because I don't drop my chin while asleep I have very low AHI's, almost always less than 1, fairly often 0.0.

[Semi]

Gotcha thanks all!

I'll try switching to non-pillow masks and lying on my back and seeing if that helps.
I'll also try increasing humidity, but when I tried before the air felt too heavy for me to comfortably breathe.

I do currently have the machine set to nasal pillows. Not sure what that does differently.